Pleural infection caused by Nocardia species: an increasingly frequent rare pathogen

Abstract Nocardia spp. are a pathogen that can cause both localized infection in different organs and disseminated infection. Although it is not always associated with immunosuppression situations, the increase in these conditions, along with the development of novel diagnostic methods, makes this diagnosis increasingly common. In this manuscript, we describe three cases of pleural infection caused by different species of Nocardia . The lesson learned is that when faced with pleural infection, Nocardia infection should be ruled out, and if confirmed, performing an imaging study of the central nervous system is mandatory to exclude a brain abscess. Close monitoring is required to control the clinical course and prevent drug-induced toxicity.